Ki Monastery, as seen from road to Chandratal from Kaza
Spiti Valley is getting very popular among adventure travelers year by year. Often people ask me about what could be the budget for Spiti Valley trip, and I feel a dedicated post around this topic will help all seeking such answers. This article is for you in case you are looking forward to preparing or analyzing the budget or cost of your Spiti Valley trip in 2026 🙂
Frankly speaking, the cost or budget of any trip including the road trip to Spiti Valley depends a lot upon person to person. The definition of taste and comfort is a matter of personal preference and hence, the cost of any trip can be calculated as an estimate on certain assumptions.
Quick Answer: As of 2026, a 9-day Spiti Valley trip costs between INR 10,000 to INR 50,000 per person depending on your mode of transport and comfort level. Budget backpackers using public transport spend around INR 10,000-12,000, while self-drive bike riders spend INR 18,000-22,000, and private taxi groups spend INR 20,000-25,000 per person.
Spiti Valley is a place where you can get varied stay options depending on your choice for comfort, preference, taste, road conditions, season, and not to forget the present circumstances. It is true for any remote and tribal place in Himachal Pradesh or other parts of the Himalayas.
The variety of stay options may range from Rs 200 stay at some dhaba tent or shack to Rs 400-700 stay at a budget homestay in Spiti to Rs 1200-2000 at medium-cost hotels or guesthouses to Rs 3500 and above for hotels that offer much more comfort, convenience, and food. As of 2026, these prices have gone up a bit compared to pre-pandemic years, my friend.
A similar thing applies to food as well. It depends on what you want to eat, pizza or dal-rice or roti-dal fry or Maggi or veg/non-veg food, etc. Well, with food, it also depends upon more importantly where you want to eat and drink 🙂
So, you can see with so many variables of personal perspective and choices, it is quite hard to estimate the cost or budget for any trip, including Spiti Valley. However, still, I will try to sketch a basic average budget analysis for a trip to Spiti Valley in 2026. I will consider the choice of accommodation and food which the majority of people will be comfortable with.
Given below is a basic budget-friendly itinerary for Spiti Valley via Shimla tour from Delhi. This itinerary does not include buffer days and covers all major tourist destinations of Spiti and Kinnaur Valley. This is a common Spiti Valley trip plan followed widely by many travelers including me 🙂
We will be analyzing the budget or costing for this Spiti Valley tour as a part of our exercise. You can roughly calculate for yourself based on your point of interest what will be the approximate cost or budget for your Spiti Valley trip.
So, you can see for our sample Spiti Valley itinerary we have taken nine days without any buffer days. You can add, remove, or modify it according to your needs. Of course, the budget outcome will depend a bit on your final plan. However, that is very much trivial to understand 🙂
Also, consider that while traveling alone, the cost of accommodation and transportation is bound to increase. If you are traveling in an evenly balanced group it will surely decrease.
As of now, I will also assume that you guys are five in number so that you can calculate the budget on a twin or triple sharing basis. A group size of five is also ideal for splitting the taxi cost appropriately. Hence, Shimla to Spiti Valley taxi fare will reduce with the number of people in the group.
Now, to analyze the budget of Spiti Valley trip on the above or any other itinerary, we can categorize it into two major parts as described below in the article.
If you are staying in an average budget hotel with decent comfort and you are traveling in a group of at least 2 people, then the average cost per day for food, accommodation, and other miscellaneous things like toll, permit fees, entry fees to monasteries, etc. comes to about Rs 1200-1500 per day as of 2026.
This trip will need about nine days at the very least. So roughly you will be spending around Rs 10,800-13,500 per person for food, accommodation, and other miscellaneous expenditures for the 9-day itinerary mentioned above.
Again, the Rs 1200-1500 figure could be a low budget for someone and a little high for others depending upon the choice of stay and food or other activities you plan to do.
An example could be, if you dine at a dhaba tent, then the cost of a meal would come out to be around Rs 80-120 per person. However, for the same meal you may pay Rs 200-300 per person or maybe more when you eat it at your hotel.
Vegetarian or non-vegetarian also matters concerning food pricing, so take that too into account. A veg thali costs about Rs 150-200, Maggi costs Rs 50-80, momos cost Rs 80-120, and thukpa costs Rs 100-150 as of 2026.
Here is a realistic breakdown of accommodation costs in Spiti Valley as of 2026:
The same thing applies to other activities, and here I have considered costs which are unavoidable, such as toll, permit charges, entry fees, snacks, etc.
If you are going for other activities like rafting, mountain biking, shopping, etc., then that will surely be something additional for you.
Hence, if you are going with budget hotels having decent comfort, eating decent quality food, and including only mandatory miscellaneous charges, then you may need to shell out Rs 10,800-13,500 per person for the above Spiti Valley itinerary of 9 days as of 2026. For stay options in Kinnaur and Spiti, check the article on Some Good Options of Stays in Spiti Valley and Kinnaur Valley.
On a trip to Spiti Valley, the major cost comes out to be for taxis, transportation, or fuel depending upon your mode of transport. Using public transport inside Kinnaur and Spiti Valley is a challenge as the frequency of such shared vehicles or buses is quite low and based on their schedules you may require more days to complete the above trip.
So, in Spiti Valley, travelers mostly commute either by privately hired taxis or by finding travel partners and sharing the cost with them or riding rented bikes from Manali or ultimately self-drive on their bikes or cars. All these options will present you with different costs of the trip.
Let us look at each one of them below to get an idea of the total cost of a Spiti Valley trip in 2026.
On this road trip from Delhi to Kinnaur to Kaza to Manali to Delhi, you will be traveling about 1600-1700 km for the above Spiti Valley trip. So, if your bike gives a mileage of about 25 kmpl on average in hills plus plains, then you are looking at about Rs 10,000-11,000 for fuel roughly as per current February 2026 petrol prices (approximately Rs 105 per liter in Himachal).
Similarly, you can calculate if you are driving a car. Just keep in mind that in hills, your car will give much lesser mileage than in plains. So, calculate accordingly and divide them among the people traveling in the car to calculate the per-person cost. Most people prefer to ride to Spiti Valley without a pillion on a bike, so cost is calculated individually.
Finally, taking food plus accommodation into account, traveling to Spiti by self-drive mode of transport, you are looking at about Rs 20,800-24,500 per person ((Rs 10,800-13,500) + (Rs 10,000-11,000)) as the total budget for Spiti Valley trip by bike in 2026.
In case you are traveling in your car with 4 people in the car, well you are looking at about Rs 14,000 approximately total fuel cost, which translates to Rs 3,500 per person. So, you are looking at about Rs 14,300-17,000 per person ((Rs 10,800-13,500) + (Rs 3,500)) as the total budget for Spiti Valley trip by car in 2026.
Important: Keep in mind, petrol pumps are limited in Spiti Valley. As of 2026, there are functional petrol pumps in Kaza, Tabo, and Pooh. Always fill up your tank whenever you see a pump. You can read more about fuel availability in remote Himalayan regions.
Here, the cost of fuel would be the same as for a self-drive private vehicle calculated above, but you will be adding the cost of bike or car rent as well. Usually, you get a decent bike in good condition at around Rs 1,500-2,000 per day as of 2026, depending on the make and model of the bike you rent. So, the cost of rent only for 9 days comes out to be around Rs 13,500-18,000.
Adding the fuel cost as calculated above, the cost here becomes approximately Rs 34,300-42,500 per person for rented bike plus fuel plus food plus accommodation. Please note that bike ride is not twin sharing for bike and fuel.
Depending upon the deal you are getting for self-drive cars from Delhi, you can yourself add up that cost. Some car rentals also provide fuel within the rent too, so do the math accordingly.
You should check more details about the tips on how to hire bikes in Manali or Leh.
Here I will assume that you have used public transport such as HPTDC or HRTC Volvo to reach Shimla from Delhi and then used the same for Manali to Delhi. We can take the cost of Volvo to be Rs 2,800-3,200 per person for round trip as of 2026. Now, you are left with Shimla to Kaza to Manali for about 7 days.
The rates of taxis for Kinnaur and Spiti Valley trips are about Rs 5,000-6,000 per day as of 2026, depending upon the number of days you plan to travel. More days means slightly lower per-day rates.
So, for seven days of Spiti Valley tour, you are looking at Rs 35,000-42,000 total taxi cost. Considering five people are traveling in your group, this works out to Rs 7,000-8,400 per person for taxi. Adding Volvo round trip, total transport cost becomes Rs 9,800-11,600 per person.
Again, taking food plus accommodation into account, traveling by privately hired taxi for Spiti Valley and using public transport for Delhi-Shimla-Manali-Delhi, you are looking at about Rs 20,600-25,100 per person ((Rs 10,800-13,500) + (Rs 9,800-11,600)) as the total cost for the entire Spiti Valley trip in 2026.
You can get connected directly to some drivers in Spiti Valley or Kinnaur Valley at the link List of Taxi Drivers for Spiti Valley and Kinnaur Valley. These drivers can come and pick you up from Manali, Shimla, Delhi, or Chandigarh too. Of course, with the price of the pickup as well. Otherwise, taxis in general are also available on the spot from Shimla or Manali from respective taxi stands.
Please note that experienced drivers from Kinnaur and Spiti region charge about Rs 5,000-6,000 per day as of 2026. Drivers who are inexperienced in the roads of Spiti Valley or Kinnaur Valley or who are from lower hills like Shimla or Manali who have not done many roads in Spiti or who are totally from plains like Chandigarh and Delhi may offer less price per day but then their inexperience, skills, and warmth could pose a question in some challenging water crossing or bad road condition sections. I always suggest hiring local experienced drivers for Spiti Valley trips.
In case you plan to travel to Spiti Valley by public transport, you can read the article How to make a budget trip to Spiti Valley by public transport?. It covers in detail how you can make a trip to Spiti Valley using public transport and also projects the cost of it.
As explained in the article linked above, you can easily make a budget trip to Spiti Valley within Rs 12,000-15,000 as of 2026 using public transport and other shared transport means. This includes all costs: food, accommodation, bus fares, and miscellaneous expenses.
Here is a quick comparison table showing the total per-person cost for a 9-day Spiti Valley trip in 2026 based on different modes of transport:
| Mode of Transport | Food + Accommodation | Transport Cost | Total Per Person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Transport (Backpacker) | Rs 10,800-13,500 | Rs 2,000-3,000 | Rs 12,800-16,500 |
| Self-Drive Own Car (4 people) | Rs 10,800-13,500 | Rs 3,500 | Rs 14,300-17,000 |
| Privately Hired Taxi (5 people) | Rs 10,800-13,500 | Rs 9,800-11,600 | Rs 20,600-25,100 |
| Self-Drive Own Bike | Rs 10,800-13,500 | Rs 10,000-11,000 | Rs 20,800-24,500 |
| Rented Bike from Manali | Rs 10,800-13,500 | Rs 23,500-29,000 | Rs 34,300-42,500 |
As you can see, the most economical option is public transport at around Rs 12,800-16,500 per person, while rented bike is the most expensive at Rs 34,300-42,500 per person for a 9-day Spiti Valley trip in 2026.
If you want to minimize your Spiti Valley trip cost, keep in mind that prices vary by season. The peak season is May to September when accommodation and taxi rates are at their highest. If you can travel in shoulder months like late April or early October, you may find slightly better rates for stays and taxis.
However, in early season (April-May) some high passes like Kunzum Pass may still be closed, and in late season (October) weather can be unpredictable. For detailed information, check the article on best time to visit Spiti Valley.
Here are some practical tips from my experience to reduce your Spiti Valley trip cost:
The budget calculations above are for basic travel, food, and accommodation. The following are NOT included and would be extra:
You can make a Spiti Valley backpacking trip using public transport within Rs 12,800-16,500 per person. When you plan a trip using your own car or bike, you will end up spending about Rs 14,300-17,000 (car) or Rs 20,800-24,500 (bike) per person for a nine-day Spiti road trip. If you plan to rent a taxi or take a bike rental, the cost of Spiti trip can be Rs 20,600-25,100 (hired taxi) or Rs 34,300-42,500 (rental bike) per person as of 2026.
You can make a budget-friendly trip to Spiti Valley by starting from Shimla side and coming out from Manali side. This circular route covers Kinnaur, Spiti, and Lahaul valleys in 9 days without backtracking. This article explains the topic in a step-by-step manner using an example of a budget-friendly itinerary for Spiti Valley road trip. The most economical way is to use public transport and stay in homestays, which brings the total cost to around Rs 12,800-16,500 per person.
There is no direct bus from Shimla to Kaza as of 2026. However, you can take the daily bus from Shimla to Reckong Peo or Chandigarh to Reckong Peo. And then travel to Kaza the next day by the daily 7:00 AM bus running between Reckong Peo to Kaza. The bus from Shimla to Reckong Peo leaves around 7:00 AM as well. Bus fare from Shimla to Reckong Peo is approximately Rs 300-400 per person.
Yes, there is a direct daily Reckong Peo to Kaza bus service that starts every day at 7:00 AM from Reckong Peo and similarly comes back from Kaza to Reckong Peo every day at 7:00 AM. The bus fare is approximately Rs 400-500 per person as of 2026. This is the most budget-friendly way to reach Kaza from the Shimla side.
If you own a bike, it is cheaper than hiring a taxi. Self-drive own bike costs around Rs 20,800-24,500 per person, while hired taxi (split among 5 people) costs Rs 20,600-25,100 per person, which is similar. However, rented bike from Manali costs Rs 34,300-42,500 per person, making it the most expensive option. If you are traveling solo, own bike is cheapest. If you are in a group of 4-5, hired taxi works out to be more economical and comfortable.
Late April and early October are generally slightly cheaper than peak months (June-August) for accommodation and taxi rates. However, keep in mind that in late April some high passes may still be closed, and in October weather can be unpredictable. The best balance of good weather and reasonable prices is usually in May or September. Avoid peak weekends and long holidays when prices can surge by 20-30%.
As of 2026, Indian citizens do not need permits for most of Spiti Valley including Kaza, Tabo, Pin Valley, Dhankar, Langza, Hikkim, Komic, and Kibber. However, a forest department fee of Rs 150 per person has been introduced from June 2025 for certain protected areas. If you plan to visit restricted border areas beyond Kibber or certain trekking routes, you may need additional permits costing Rs 100-300 per person. For detailed information, check the article on Spiti Valley permits.
Solo Spiti Valley trip costs are significantly higher because you cannot split taxi and accommodation costs. For a solo traveler using public transport and staying in shared dorm beds or budget homestays, expect to spend around Rs 15,000-18,000 for 9 days. If you hire a private taxi as a solo traveler, the cost can easily go up to Rs 50,000-60,000 because you bear the entire taxi cost. My suggestion is to use the DwD Community or travel forums to find fellow travelers and share costs.
I hope the above article helps you calculate your budget for Spiti Valley trip in 2026. I understand that it takes one base itinerary into account, but I am sure it will also help you plan your own custom itinerary as well. In case you still have any doubts, feel free to post your questions in the comments section of this article.
Have a travel question?? You can subscribe to my YouTube channel and leave a comment to ask your travel questions about traveling to the Himalayas.
I will look forward to knowing your perspective and tips on cost analysis for Spiti Valley trip as well. Kindly share your valuable thoughts, feedback, or inputs here which will help many other fellow travelers planning their Spiti Valley adventure.
In case you know your friend or family member who is planning a trip to Spiti Valley, please feel free to share this article with them as well. For discussions, queries, and finding travel partners for Spiti Valley, check the DwD Community 🙂
Last Updated: February 2026. All prices and information in this article have been verified as of February 2026.
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